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Dusting sand off fragments of parchment...

This year,
the church

moves together

moves together

moves together

moves together

again.

In the ruins of Oxyrhynchus, Egypt

Archaeologists uncovered a fragile scrap of papyrus containing the oldest Christian hymn ever found, complete with both lyrics and musical notation.

The feature documentary The First Hymn follows this ancient song from desert burial to modern resurrection.

hosted by john dickson

The film traces the history, theology, and music of the hymn, and its meaning for the Church today.

Worship leaders Chris Tomlin and Ben Fielding reimagine the melody for modern congregations, culminating in a live worship performance that reconnects today’s Church with its earliest chorus.

following a powerful global cinema release

We're inviting church leaders globally to create something special within their local communities … everywhere!

Welcome to The First Hymn Church Experience.

ONE CHURCH
ONE SONG
ONE VOICE

CREATE RIPPLES OF CONNECTION, REFLECTION AND FAITH

The First Hymn Church Experience invites churches everywhere to gather around this remarkable story.

We'll provide 12 months of screening access for your church and everything you need to make this a meaningful moment for your community.

In short, it's everything but the popcorn kernels. In long, it's preaching, worship and discussion resources. Study guides for your congregation. Hosting and promotional resources for your screenings. All the tools to dive deep into the powerful, ancient truths of this story and let it transform you.
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Come on the journey with us as we share a film audiences are already embracing and loving.

audience
feedback

Rated 4.8/5

97% would recommend to family and friends.

When the first performance came on, my skin all tingled.

Fascinating, informative, delightful and moving.

Moved. Connected.

I have never seen anything like this. Quite profound.

Uplifting, edifying, very singable

A legacy of 1800 years worshiping the same God now in a new context.

An amazing story of three hymn and history of Christianity, wonderfully woven together.

Moves the soul and stirs the spirit, reminding you of the incredible story we are a part of, the role music has played in our faith for centuries, and the value of beauty and artistry to glorify God and edify the church.

You'll come away singing the song for the rest of the night as it really stirs your heart.

Enlivens the past which connects us to be present. Both the traditional score and modern version are delightful

Inspirational on so many levels. History-making, History-changing. Unifying - all that follow Jesus, we are one. How great is our God!

It made me feel connected with fellow believers who lived in another time and place.

I feel the Holy Spirit stirring in my heart when I listen to it.

Connecting with the past to move forward with our God...the giver of all good gifts.

It gave me goosebumps, a Greek Christian hymn written over 1700 years ago completed and brought back to life.

Faith-affirming, grounding, and uplifting.

Made me smile! In my imagination, I was in a small room with early Christians praising God, harmonising together, joyful, courageous.

A SIMPLE JOURNEY FOR YOUR CHURCH

Sometimes the most meaningful moments in church life are also the simplest ones...

A story shared.
A song sung together.
A conversation that lingers long after the evening ends.
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The First Hymn was created to help churches experience exactly that.
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We’ve designed a simple pathway that allows your church community to experience the film together, reflect on its themes, and continue the conversation in meaningful ways.

Step 1

uncover

PREPARE YOUR CHURCH

Before screening the film, take a little time to introduce the story behind The First Hymn.

Many churches find it helpful to weave the themes of the film into worship, preaching, or small group conversations in the weeks leading up to, or following the event.

To help you do this, we provide:

Preaching resources that explore the story of the early church and the power of worship in community
Small group discussion guides designed to spark meaningful reflection
Worship resources to introduce The First Hymn song to your congregation
Promotional materials to help your church invite people along

This preparation allows the film to land more deeply when your community finally gathers to watch it.

Step 2

experience

GATHER TO WATCH THE FILM

Your church gathered together. Watching a powerful story. Host a church movie night and invite your congregation to attend together. At the heart of this experience is a simple moment.

Many churches choose to turn the screening into a warm community event by adding:

A shared meal beforehand
Coffee and dessert after the film
A relaxed space for conversation and reflection

When people experience a story together in the same room, something special happens. The film becomes more than something you watch. It becomes something you share.

Step 3

linger

LET THE CONVERSATION CONTINUE

Often the most meaningful moments happen after the credits roll.

The questions. The reflections. The stories people begin sharing with one another.

To help this moment linger longer, many churches invite their small groups to gather in the weeks following the screening to explore the themes of the film together.

We provide small group discussion guides designed to help communities talk about:

Worship in the early church
The power of shared faith
How music shapes belief and identity
What it means to lift our voices together today

These conversations often become some of the most meaningful parts of the entire experience.

A RESOURCE YOUR CHURCH CAN USE ALL YEAR

With The First Hymn Church Experience, you receive more than a single screening licence. You’ll receive:

12 months of screening access for your church community
25 digital copies of the film that can be shared with small group leaders
Full access to preaching, worship, and discussion resources
Hosting and promotional resources

This allows the film to continue serving your church long after the first event.
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Small groups can revisit it. Leaders can use it as a teaching tool. Communities can experience the story again in different settings.

A MOMENT THAT CAN BECOME A MEMORY

Church life is built on shared moments.

Meals around tables. Songs sung together. Stories that remind us who we are.

This simply offers one more opportunity to create a moment like that.
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Gather your people. Watch the story together. Share a meal. Let the conversation continue.
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Sometimes the most powerful ministry happens in moments just like these.

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